He went on: “Time flies, it looks like it was a couple of days ago but it was nine years ago when I first became manager and since then a lot of things happened in my professional life.

“I have the same nature, I am the same person, I have the same heart and the same kind of emotions related to my passion for football and my job, but of course I am a different person.

“If I have to describe myself I would describe myself as a very happy person. It is the first time I arrive in a club where I already love the club, before I had to build an emotional relationship and I only came to love the club a little later.”

He reassured the press that he could achieve further success as the manager of Chelsea, explaining: “”My career has been built and raised on success. In every club I was able to achieve success and win trophies and leave different types of legacy. I have to believe in that.”

Inevitably the subject of a previous breakdown of relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich came up: “I read that I was fired and we had a complete breakdown in relationship, that was not true. At the time we thought it was the best for both of us.

“It was a decision that was difficult for both of us but a decision made by mutual agreement. There was never a break of the relationship and that is why it was possible for me to be here today.

“I am back because we feel we are in a moment of my professional life and in the case of the owner, also a moment in his career as owner, where I think we are in the best moments of our careers and ready to work together again and in much better conditions this time and to succeed in what this club wants, which is stability.

“One of points for me is my relationship with the owner has to be private. What is discussed has to be private. That privacy is crucial.

“The point is we all want the same. We are all in the same direction. It’s a moment where I think we have maturity, a very good feeling, same perspective for the future of the club.

“My area is football but more and more in football have to be deeply connected with all areas of the club. We have same vision and I’m more than happy to follow this philosophy. I am more than happy to be back.

“I didn’t choose a comfortable position because I’m returning to a house where I was happy and successful and where fans loved me. I’m coming from the opposite way. The expectations are higher because people know what I can deliver.

“I want to be respected for achievements in the past but I want to respected for what I achieve now.”

The 50-year-old highlighted the experience that he clearly feels will benefit Chelsea the second time around: “I was two years at Inter and three at Madrid, five years in a managerial career is a long time. Football is an industry where you learn a lot of yourself and learn a lot every day.

“My beginning in 2000, when I was managing for the first time I thought I knew everything but after 13 years you realise you know nothing and have to learn every day. My adventures around Europe were fantastic for me, different countries, different cultures, different media. It was fantastic.

“At 50 I think I am still very young as a manager and I think it was like the beginning of a new period. Do I have a different personality? No, but for sure I have a different approach and perspective.”

Writers at Footballers Direct have just heard that Mourinho has publicly criticised Ronaldo’s attitude on a Spanish TV show…

The former Real Madrid manager revealed that one of the reasons for his exit from the team was the breakdown of their relationship. He said of their fall out: “I had only one problem with him, very simple, very basic, which was when a coach criticises a player from a tactical viewpoint trying to improve what in my view could have been improved… he didn’t take it very well, because maybe he thinks he knows everything and the coach cannot help him to develop more.”

He went on to hint that he was the reason behind much of Ronaldo’s success in their three seasons together: “Cristiano has had three fantastic seasons with me, I don’t know if they were the best of his career because he had some fantastic moments with Manchester United,” he said.

“I think we created a fantastic situation for him tactically in which he could express all his potential and turn that into records and goals.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho returned to Chelsea this week just two days after leaving Real and he seems very happy to be back: “I feel myself not just a Chelsea manager, it’s the first time in my career that I arrive at a club that I already love. I am happy and proud because when you return to a place it’s for some reason, it’s not because you had good results in the past, not just because the fans like you, it’s because you left something here. I left something here.

“I think I arrive in my club, my Chelsea, in the best moment of my career, my stability as a manager, my stability as a person. I arrive in the best moment ready to give everything I have to try and make the club happy. I’m the same nature but much more mature with a different approach to things. Much more ready to establish myself in the club and stay for a long time.”

Chief executive of Chelsea, Ron Gourlay described Mourinho as the club’s “number one choice”, before adding: “He was and remains a hugely popular figure at the club and everyone here looks forward to working with him again.”

Footballers Direct will be interested to see what changes he makes to the line up!